President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will travel to Busan and Gyeongju, South Korea, from October 30 to November 2 to attend the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting, where he will advocate for stronger regional trade, innovation, and investment partnerships.
“The President’s participation is centered on advancing the Philippines’ economic interests, forging deeper ties with APEC members, and reaffirming our commitment to APEC’s vision of a more open, prosperous, and dynamic Asia-Pacific in a rapidly transforming regional landscape,” Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) Spokesperson Angelica Escalona said in a Malacañang press briefing Tuesday.
Marcos is currently in Kuala Lumpur for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and is expected to return home Tuesday night after formally accepting the Philippines’ chairship for the 2026 ASEAN Summit.
According to Escalona, the APEC Summit will produce four key outcome documents: the APEC Leaders’ Declaration, and statements on artificial intelligence, demographic change, and cultural and creative industries.
Marcos will deliver a speech at the APEC CEO Summit, where regional business leaders and policymakers will discuss trade and technology trends. He is also set to hold meetings with executives from priority industries, including manufacturing and semiconductors.
The President will meet with members of the Filipino community in Busan—home to over 70,000 Filipinos, including 42,000 overseas workers—and pay tribute to Filipino soldiers who fought in the Korean War through a wreath-laying and tree-planting ceremony at the UN Memorial Cemetery.
Escalona noted that no meetings have been confirmed yet with U.S. President Donald Trump or Chinese President Xi Jinping, although “two bilateral meetings are being finalized.” Trump and Xi are expected to hold their own high-level dialogue during the APEC Summit.